Disable finding latitude and longitude coordinates when using an address locator

Summary

The ability to find or search for locations by latitude and longitude coordinates instead of entering an address is new functionality that was added to address locators at version ArcGIS 10.0. Address locators understand World Geodetic System (WGS) coordinates by default when finding locations by latitude and longitude coordinates.

This article provides the steps to disable the ability to find locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.

Procedure

Warning:
Before making any edits, make a backup of the file USAddress.lot.xml.

1. Open the USAddress.lot.xml file in an XML or text editor, such as NotePad++. This file is located in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.x\Locators

Note:
The ArcGIS Pro path is: C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\Locators

2. Search for 'Top level elements'.
3. Comment out the 'Coordinates' element.

<alt ref="Coordinates"/>

<!--<alt ref="Coordinates"/>-->

4. Save the edits. The ability to find locations by coordinates is disabled in any newly-created address locators.